Joyanna Grace Willett

Joyanna Willett (Ribey) came to Atikokan with her husband, Don Ribey, in 1961 after being married for only a year.

Like many folks, they were lured here by higher wages and planned to stay for just a couple of years. Those couple of years turned into a lifetime that they really enjoyed, and Atikokan became their home for the rest of their lives.

Many colleagues in her music, teaching profession and her friends soon came to realize her musical talents. She was an incredible pianist, accompanist, and singer. So began a career that touched the hearts of many people in this town she called home. If you weren’t taught music by her in school, you most likely saw her at a wedding or funeral. She played for funerals and weddings for 60 years.

Joyanna was part of the famous Atikokan Northernaires for over 40 years and was the Director for 30 years. They sang in events around town for all of those years. She was the United church organist for 41 years and directed many choirs during that time.

She was also in the Lions Club from the early 1970s until 2008 playing piano at Lion’s shows. Recently she shared that many times there was no music for the show. She had to play it by ear and make it all up.

When son Doug was in university playing clarinet, his mom accompanied him for all of his adjudications. A new dean of music at his final adjudication kind of shoved him aside to find out who his mom was and why she wasn’t the lead pianist at the Thunder Bay Orchestra. Mom’s usual direct comment was “I don’t live in Thunder Bay.”

She taught piano lessons for decades to many children in town, including her grandchildren. She really loved them dearly and wanted to share her talents with them, including gardening, sewing, knitting, and crocheting especially warm socks.

After our dad died in 1983, our Mom was remarried to Lloyd Emmerson Willett on December 26, 1985.

Lloyd had six children, and our mom had a new journey ahead of her. She enjoyed spending time with all her stepchildren and grandchildren, and spoke about them all of the time, especially in letters at Christmas time, as all six of them lived in many places around Canada, and the United States and abroad. They all kept in contact regularly, which gave her great joy. Her greatest place that she enjoyed of all times was her cabin at Warner Lake.

Joyanna was predeceased by her dad, George Stanley Dearing, and her mom, Joy Fawcett Dearing, and her sister Marlene. Joyanna was also predeceased by her first husband, Don Ribey, 1961–1983 and her second husband, Lloyd Willett 1985–2011.

Joyanna is survived by her two sons David (Monique) and Doug (Shelley) and stepchildren George (Amy), Cory (Doug), Laura, Eva, Mindy (Damian) and Christy, and by her grandchildren Sarena (Kyle), John, Samantha, Bryan, Sarah, Jack, Rae, Annie and Ruby Lew.

The family would like to thank Dr. Vanderloo and all the hospital staff for their dedication and Dr. Vanderloo‘s excellent advice and personal support. We’d also like to say thank you to Susan Girard for her guidance and assistance in bringing her close church friends to visit.

A Celebration of Joyanna’s life will be celebrated on October 19, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at the Riverview United Church. There will be a luncheon at the United Church following the internment at the Little Falls Cemetery.